Novel lactic acid bacteria Enterococcus sp. AG34 was isolated from sugar cane bagasse. AG34 was grown in sugar cane juice and produced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), for which addition of yeast extract was not necessary. AG34 was inoculated into sugar cane juice containing 0.2% sodium glutamate and cultured at 30℃. GABA-enriched Kokuto containing 357.4 mg GABA per 100 g Kokuto was made from juice that was fermented for 24 h. In addition, the data suggested that AG34 does not produce any substance that inhibits the solidification of Kokuto.
